Reporting Elder Abuse
Elder abuse incidents are underreported. Image: Elderly hand. Authored by: unclelkt. Source: https://pixabay.com/en/hospice-wrinkled-hand-elderly-old-1794351/. License: CC-0
As discussed earlier, there is a significant lack of reporting of elder abuse in the United States. Adult Protective Services (APS), like CPS, is a special social service agency that looks into issues of abuse and neglect for disabled adults. This includes everyone over the age of 18, including the elderly. Like child abuse, there are mandatory reporters, such as doctors and home healthcare workers, who must report any suspicions of abuse. The investigation for elder abuse is similar to that of child abuse, where the first thing is to determine whether there is abuse and whether the person is in danger and needs to be removed from the living situation. An investigation may include the following:
• A visit to the elder person’s residence for observation • Interviews with the elder and other individuals who are aware of the elder person’s situation • A review of the elder’s treatment and healthcare records, including records from the nursing home if he or she is in one
Once the initial investigation is complete, the Elder Abuse/Neglect Unit or another agency specializing in services to older adults, will work with local law enforcement to determine a course of action. Because the caregiver and abuser is often a family member, people are reluctant to pursue a case, which places investigators in a difficult situation. A competent adult has the right to refuse help, and this can end an investigation, even if there is abuse. Because this is also considered a form of domestic violence, state and local domestic violence laws come into place, including arresting someone for abuse.